OnthePotomac

Not a skirt, but the KVD Caffeine shad in baby bass is a killer on the Potomac. Always have one on.

My Chronarch MGL is the 8.1:1 and going strong and is a little over three years old.. I keep the micro drive gear lubed with Shimano, or Cal's drag greases. My two Curado 70's are 8.2:1 and over four years old. Same lube on those drive gears and still very smooth. I do my own reels. All of those reels are still stock out of the box. The Chronarch MGL weighs the same as the 70's at 6.5oz.

I only have the Chronarch MGL and could not be happier. My decision was based on what I wanted versus what I needed. I wanted the Metanium, but really did not need one.

The average depth of the Potomac is 5-6 feet outside the shipping lane and at 10kts it white caps. In addition, if there is a south wind with an outgoing tide and southerly river flow you will be in 3' breakers in a heart beat. No such thing as "rollers waves" to ride on the Potomac, just really nasty chop. Fun water to fish LOL

Tie direct with 17lb XL mono. I never saw this bait as one to "burn" across the top, just a nice steady retrieve. As much as I watched Larry Dalberg develop this lure on his shows, I cannot remember if he only used a steady, and no real fast retrieve.

Don't have one, but have had a bunch of Silver Buddy blades for many years and they work. Paul"Buddy" Banks developed the Silver Buddy in 1983. They have gone up in price, but 15 years ago when I loaded up they were very inexpensive.

I have been using 15lb Invizx for so many years with pump and reel, pump and reel. that I am happy with my choice. Anyway, they don't come off LOL

I do on a 7' MH fast tip. It works.

Used to use a Palomar for mono, but use a Uni now for everything, everything.

Don't agree. I have three K 8.5:1 reels and keep the micro drive gear lubed with either Shimano, or Cal's drag grease and they remain very smooth at three years old. I do my own reels. The finer the teeth on your drive gear, the heavier the grease needed. How true. I have three Curado 200E7's and one of the three is like a different reel (all purchased within 90 days) 10 years ago Throw the same bait on all three and the one reel will spool itself. go figure. All three meticulously maintained well by me. I call it my super reel.

2-3 weeks every January is my reel "Get R Done" time.

I take really paranoid care of my gear and I don't own any expensive rods. With the exception of a KVD spinnerbait rod (on sale for $80) and a Rick Clunn top water rod (on sale for $80) , both 15 years old, the balance of my rods are 7' Med and MH Carbonlites on sale for 80-90$, but I treat them like $500 rods. Thanks to the generous gift cards from our wonderful daughters and their husbands I am blessed with a variety of nice Shimano reels with my prize possession, a Chronarch MGL.

I have 50lb 832 on my frog rod, but to avoid what the OP describes I don't throw the frog over hand with gusto, but instead sort of launch the frog with an underhand lob. The distance is good and I don't have to mess around with strange braid behavior. No braid on any other reels.

Be aware that the Don's Johns are locked at Brittle, so everyone get to go in the lake. Brilliant.

Make your life easier and just use a uni. Fast and never fails.

Had that happen to regular green Power Pro many years ago and it stained a Citica 200 green on my frog set up and that is when I switched to 832 dark green. I would guess that Power Pro has changed since then.

I donated mine to a local tackle shop and he was happy to get them.

What is your boat sitting on on the trailer?

I have one on every frog and it really, really makes hook ups easy. No more guessing delays. They hit and they are hooked, usually in the roof of their mouth. Don't leave home without one LOL. The Lake fork doesn't look like it would be very sturdy, but I have never had one fail.

Hard to beat the Strike King Rage Craws.

I don't know if it is fishing correct or not, but my wacky Senkos are fished on the same rod as regular Texas rigged Senkos.. a 7' MH fast tip Carbonlite on 10lb Invizx on a bait caster. It works anyway.

I have used BPS Excel 8lb on my spinning reels, and 14 and 20lb on some of by baitcasters for 20 years. Heck, in the early days of me getting into bass fishing I fished frogs on 20 lb Excel. Don't know who makes it, I only know it works.

At least on my Yammie that is an over heat indicator.

Nooo problem. I changed mine in 10 minute since the new one had the same diameter as the old one and it just took a gentle nudge to get the roller bar through. The boat weight in on the bunk boards.

I have only ever used a 3/0 EWG Gammie Texa rigged on my Senkos and it works for me.